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What is a Defect?

• A “defect” is a variance from a desired product attribute
  • Defect from product specification
  • Variance from customer/user expectation
• Defects generally fall into 3 categories
  • Wrong – the specifications have been implemented incorrectly, and is a variance from customer/user specification
  • Missing – a specified or wanted requirement is not in the built product
  • Extra – a requirement incorporated into the product that was not specified

 Defects versus Failures

• A “failure” is when a defect causes an error in operation or negatively impacts the user/customer

 Main Causes of Defects

• Process Problems
  • Process that do not work properly or effectively
  • Ex – if the requirements process if flawed, the user of the process will not gather proper information